Todays Futon

Here are a few words which have interesting origins:India: India was originally named Bharath Varsh after Bharath, the son of Shakuntala and Dushyant. When the Persians (from Persia, now Iran) came here they called it Sindhu Desh, after the river Sindh (Indus). The Greeks named it India, from the way they pronounced Sindh river. The name was brought back to use by the Europeans when they came here in the 15th century.Colombia (South America) is named after Colombus who discovered America by chance!Virginia (USA) is named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was a virgin.Rhodesia (Africa) is named after Sir Cecil Rhodes who discovered it.England was called ‘Angle Land’ after the “Angles”, one of the three tribes which invaded the land land and settled there; the other two tribes which invaded the land and settled there; the other two tribes were Saxons and Jutes. The original inhabitants were call metabolism booster ed “Britons” after whom the country is known as “Britain”.Mysore is named after Mahishasura, a legendary demon. He is supposed to have been killed by Goddess Durga.America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was a Italian sailor and explorer.Kerala (South India) means coconut in Malayalam language spoken by the people there. The State grows plenty of coconuts.Assam (North-Eastern India) means uneven, not level.Bihar (Eastern India) was so called because of the large number of ‘Viharas’ (monasteries of Buddhists) which were set up there.Rajasthan (North-Western India) is named after Rajputs which means sons of Raja (King).Kashmir (Himalayas) is named after Sage Kashyap of Ancient India.Punjab (North-Western India) comes from Panj-five, Aab-water – both Persian words.Maharashtra (Western India) comes from Maha – great, rashtra – nation.Gujarat (Western India) was named after the rulers called Gurjars.